Riley's POV
"Listen to me, Caleb. I don't expect forgiveness from you. I never will. I understand exactly what I stole from you - those six precious years. Six years of your life that I can never give back. Six years of watching our children grow that you'll never get to experience again. You missed their first steps, their first words, holding them as tiny babies in your arms. All of that is gone forever because of my choices.
But I want you to know something. None of this was ever their fault, and they understand that completely. I made sure of it. Every single day, I told them the truth. I shouldered every bit of blame because that's where it belonged - with me. Not once did I let them question your love for them."
The silence stretches between us like a chasm. I rise from my chair, my legs unsteady beneath me.
Caleb's hand shoots out to catch my wrist. "Riley, I told you before - I get why you felt you had to do what you did. That doesn't make the pain any less real."
